"Hand-to-hand combat," Hinata announced, his voice cutting through the early morning air. "It's the end of the month, but since all of you have been doing well, I won't be dropping anyone."
Rin grinned. Yuji remained stoic. Daichi puffed his chest out proudly.
"*Yet,*" Hinata added, and the word hung like a guillotine.
The grins faded.
"From 5 AM to 2 PM, you'll train individually with me. From 2 to 4 PM, you'll spar against each other. And after that..." Hinata's eyes swept over them. "One at a time, you'll fight me. One-on-one. I'll only use one hand and one leg."
"Only one hand and one leg?" Daichi repeated, his pride flaring. "That's insulting."
"It's generous," Hinata corrected. "Begin."
---
**Week 1**
The training was brutal, but Rin felt... good.
He'd conquered the mountain. He'd pushed past his limits and won. For the first time since arriving at Division 1, he felt like he belonged.
So when Hinata demonstrated a combination—jab, pivot, elbow strike—Rin nodded along, mimicked it a few times, and figured he had the basics down.
"That's enough for today," he told himself during individual training, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'll pick it up tomorrow."
During the sparring sessions, he held his own against Daichi. Lost to Yuji, obviously, but that was expected. And when it came time to face Hinata...
He got destroyed in ten seconds.
"Again tomorrow," Hinata said, as always.
Rin shrugged it off. *It's only been a week. I'll get there.*
---
**Week 2**
Rin started to notice something.
Yuji was *improving.* Fast.
Movements that had been stiff and calculated a week ago were now fluid. His counters came quicker. His footwork was sharper. It was like watching someone download information directly into their brain.
Daichi, too, was adapting. His raw power had always been there, but now he was learning control—how to channel his strength efficiently instead of just throwing haymakers.
And Rin?
Rin was... stagnant.
He knew the basics. He could throw a decent punch. But when he sparred with the others, the gap was widening instead of closing.
"Come on, Rin," Yuji said after pinning him during a match. "You're not even trying."
"I *am* trying," Rin snapped, shoving him off.
But deep down, he knew Yuji was right.
---
**Week 2, Day 10**
Rin sat alone in the training yard after everyone else had left, staring at his hands.
He'd been so proud after beating the mountain. So sure that he'd turned a corner. But now...
"I'm falling behind again," he muttered.
The realization stung worse than any punch Hinata had landed.
Yuji didn't have to work as hard. His body just *understood* faster. Daichi's natural strength carried him through mistakes. But Rin? Rin had nothing but effort.
And lately, he hadn't even been giving that.
He clenched his fists.
"Consistency," he whispered, remembering how he'd clawed his way through the mountain training. "That's the only way."
He stood up, walked to the edge of the yard, and started running.
---
**Week 3**
Rin was up at 4 AM again.
He ran the mountain before training started. Did extra drills during breaks. Stayed late to practice combinations until his knuckles bled and his legs wobbled.
Yuji noticed. "You're doing the mountain runs again?"
"Yeah," Rin said between breaths. "Gotta stay sharp."
"You know we're past that stage, right?"
"I know." Rin wiped sweat from his face. "But I'm not."
Yuji studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Suit yourself."
Maki brought him tea one evening as he collapsed after training. "You're pushing yourself hard."
"Have to," Rin said, accepting the cup gratefully. "Talent only gets you so far, right? I've gotta make up the difference somehow."
Maki smiled softly. "You're starting to sound like Hinata."
Rin blinked. Then grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
---
**Week 4**
The change was subtle at first.
Rin's punches landed cleaner. His defense tightened. During sparring sessions, Daichi actually had to work to pin him down.
"You're getting better," Daichi admitted grudgingly after a match.
"Thanks," Rin panted, grinning despite the bruises. "You too."
And when he faced Yuji...
He lasted a full minute before getting taken down.
Yuji helped him up, expression unreadable. "You've improved."
"Not enough," Rin said. "But I'm getting there."
---
**Week 5, Day 3**
Yuji stepped into the ring with Hinata, stance perfect, eyes focused.
Hinata raised one hand. Lifted one leg off the ground.
"Begin."
The fight lasted thirty seconds.
Yuji moved like water—fluid, adaptive, relentless. He feinted high, struck low, pivoted around Hinata's guard, and landed a clean hit to the ribs.
Hinata stepped back, lowering his hand.
"Pass."
Yuji exhaled slowly, then bowed. "Thank you, sensei."
Rin watched from the sidelines, a mix of awe and frustration churning in his gut. *Of course Yuji did it first.*
---
**Week 5, Day 8**
"Your turn, Rin."
Rin stepped into the ring, heart pounding. Five days since Yuji passed. He'd been training non-stop, running simulations in his head, drilling counters until they were muscle memory.
Hinata assumed his stance—one hand, one leg.
"Begin."
Rin didn't rush. He circled, looking for openings, remembering every mistake from previous attempts.
Hinata jabbed. Rin slipped it, countered with a body shot. Hinata blocked, but Rin was already moving—pivot, elbow aimed at the exposed side—
Hinata's hand moved.
But Rin anticipated it. He ducked under, swept low, and clipped Hinata's standing leg.
It wasn't much. Barely a graze.
But it was contact.
Hinata straightened, lowering his hand.
"Pass."
Rin froze. "Wait... really?"
"You landed a clean hit. That was the requirement." Hinata's expression didn't change, but there was something in his eyes. "Well done."
Rin's legs nearly gave out. Relief, exhaustion, and pride all hit him at once.
"I... I did it..."
Yuji nodded from the sidelines. Maki clapped. Even Daichi looked impressed.
---
**Week 5, Day 9**
"My turn," Daichi declared, stepping into the ring with renewed determination.
He'd watched Yuji and Rin succeed. He wasn't about to be left behind.
"Begin."
Daichi came in hard and fast, using his raw power to overwhelm Hinata's defense. His strikes were heavy, relentless, and for once, controlled.
Hinata blocked, dodged, countered—but Daichi adapted, reading the patterns, adjusting his approach.
And then, with a roar, Daichi feinted high and drove a fist into Hinata's midsection.
Contact.
Hinata stepped back.
"Pass."
Daichi grinned, breathing hard but triumphant. "About time."
---
That evening, the three of them sat together outside the barracks, bruised and exhausted but satisfied.
"Second stage down," Yuji said quietly.
"Two more to go," Rin added.
Daichi leaned back, looking up at the stars. "Think we can actually do this? Make it through all of Hinata's training?"
Rin thought about the mountain. The sleepless nights. The moments he'd wanted to quit.
"Yeah," he said firmly. "We can."
---
**The Next Morning**
Hinata stood in the training yard, three katanas laid out on the rack behind him.
"Congratulations on passing stage two," he said as the recruits assembled. "You've proven you can fight without your swords. Now..."
He gestured to the weapons.
"It's time to prove you can fight *with* them."
Rin's hand instinctively moved toward his white katana.
"Stage three," Hinata continued. "Swordmanship."
The three recruits exchanged glances.
This was it.
The real test.
---